On the 8th day of Christmas...

 St. Basil's day!

I had some of my favourite take out food!

Mr. Husband worked late out of necessity but it gave me

a peaceful day with reading and Christmas dinner party preparation for Friday... 

I read all of The Velvet Room, it was so lovely.

About a 12 year old girl who struggles with the difficulties of her 

family's life (noise, crowd, poverty, illness), is a voracious reader,

musical, has a ill but kind, wise father who loves history, music, books...

and she finds this beautiful room in an abandoned mansion 

and it is so lovely... 

set in 1937 in California, a real joy to read.

And I understand why I loved it so much in grade 7, reading it again

and again at my school library.

I was just like Robin, though not musical like she is,

but I was always wondering off, even going into the apple orchard next to our

school to get away from it all... 

We enjoyed some good St Basil's bread (Vasilopita) and tea at night.

The coin has not yet been found, but the bread is a large loaf

and there were only two of us home to share it! 

The Young Unicorns is one of my favourite of all of 

Madeleine L'Engle's books.

I am so happy to have this one now, a 1st edition 7th printing, 

almost 10 years after the first printing...

*

And Mr Husband got another history book!

He is very selective about what history books he wishes to own

and I am delighted that he has a few new ones this year! 

Some special hard cider that Mr Husband worked so hard to find,

and another neat book for Mr. Husband! 

This page was esp. cool -

literary figures in miniature! 

And so we had another wonderful day of Christmas.